IBM Portable Personal Computer

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IBM Portable PC 5155 model 68
An IBM Portable PC with two 5.25-inch floppy diskette drives installed
DeveloperIBM
TypePortable computer
Release dateFebruary 1984; 40 years ago (1984-02)
Introductory priceUS$4,225 (equivalent to $12,390 in 2023)
DiscontinuedApril 1986 (1986-04)[1]
Operating systemIBM PC DOS Version 2.10 (disk)
CPUIntel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz
Memory256 KB (expandable to 640 KB)
StorageOne or two half-height 5+1⁄4-inch 360 KB floppy disk drives
DisplayCGA card connected to an internal 9-inch monochrome (amber) composite monitor
Mass30 pounds (13.6 kg)
PredecessorIBM Personal Computer
SuccessorIBM PC Convertible

The IBM Portable Personal Computer 5155 model 68 is an early

IBM Convertible
, only roughly two years after its debut.

Design

The Portable was basically a

RJ11
. The cable from the connector then went to the back of the machine, where the original XT keyboard jack was.

Experts [who?] stated that IBM developed the Portable in part because its sales force needed a computer that would compete against the Compaq Portable.[2] If less sophisticated than the Compaq, the IBM had the advantage of a lower price tag. The motherboard had eight expansion slots. The power supply was rated 114 watts and was suitable for operation on either 115 or 230 VAC.[1] Hard disks were a very common third-party add-on as IBM did not offer them from the factory.[1] Typically in a two-drive context, floppy drive A: ran the operating system, and drive B: would be used for application and data diskettes.

Its selling point as a "portable" was that it combined the monitor into a base unit approximating a medium-sized suitcase that could be simply set on its flat side, the back panel slid away to reveal the power connector, plugged in, the keyboard folded down or detached, and booted up for use, though printers at the time, if needed, still tended to be less "portable". At thirty pounds, it may have been difficult to carry for some, and was often referred to as "luggable".

Timeline

Timeline of the IBM Personal Computer
IBM ThinkCentreIBM NetVistaIBM Palm Top PC 110IBM PC SeriesIBM AptivaIBM PS/ValuePointThinkPadEduQuestIBM PS/noteAmbra Computer CorporationIBM PCradioIBM PS/1IBM Industrial SystemIBM PS/55IBM PS/2IBM Personal Computer XT 286IBM PC ConvertibleIBM JXIBM Personal Computer AT/370IBM Personal Computer ATIBM Industrial ComputerIBM PCjrIBM Portable Personal ComputerIBM Personal Computer XT/370IBM 3270 PCIBM Personal Computer XTIBM 5550IBM Personal ComputerIBM System/23 DatamasterIBM 5120IBM 5110IBM 5100
Asterisk (*) denotes a model released in Japan only

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-88022-856-3
    pp. 76–81
  2. ^ Rosenberg, Ronald (1984-02-28). "Doubts Raised About PCjr". The Boston Globe.
Notes
  • IBM (1984). Personal Computer Hardware Reference Library: Guide to Operations, Portable Personal Computer. IBM Part Numbers 6936571 and 1502332.

External links

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